CATALYTIC DECOMPOSITION OF AMMONIA IN FUEL GAS PRODUCED IN PILOT-SCALE PRESSURIZED FLUIDIZED-BED GASIFIER

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) process, incorporating pressurized gasification of solid fuels (coal, peat, biomass) and hot gas cleanup, is being developed worldwide to generate power with high efficiency and in an environmentally acceptable manner. The gasifier product gas contains, among others, ammonia and to a lesser extent hydrogen cyanide (HCN) which are converted to oxides of nitrogen (NOx) when the gas is combusted in the gas turbine. Several nickel-based catalysts were developed and evaluated for decomposition of ammonia present in the gasifier product gas, at Enviropower's 15 MW(th) pilot plant in coal- and biomass-gasification tests. Up to 75% of ammonia in the product gas was decomposed at 800-900 degrees C temperature range and 12-22 bar pressure.